All About Full-Time Maids
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If the domestic helper is already "glued" to the phone when you are around, who knows what they can be up to when you are not around. I think its time to change a new helper…
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FACT: I caught my maid taking R-rated selfies, sending to local numbers. There’s other scary things which I won’t elaborate.
SPECULATION: She is having extramarital affair in SG.
Enough was enough. Sent her off and had been maidless since. Level of cleanliness have to compromise, more work in terms of preparing ingredients, daily laundry, etc. But I won’t go back to having maids, unless I have become really incapable of doing physical tasks myself. A stranger is a stranger. If I won’t leave my money and diamonds with them, why would I leave my children with them - esp on the days when the kids are sick and grumpy (cos I send mine to full day infantcare/childcare etc)
Purpleflower… consider sending to full day infantcare. I used to send mine to Sparkletots. Special fees for citizens. $1200 less $600 subsidy. More if you qualify for higher subsidy. Peace of mind. -
Sunnysideup, I also think $50 is way too much. Anyway, I think she prefers to be out of the house going out with her friends and her sis. So usually she would not work on off days. At most, it’s twice a month. Not motivated monetarily I would say… Lol or maybe the extra $100 for going to my in law place is already enough for her. Actually at my in law place, the work is not tough as only 3 adults in the household and no need to cook or wash dishes i.e. In law house doesn’t cook anyway. My fil even gave her $50 ang pow during CNY. Me and husband also would give her gifts during festive.
My friends said maybe I am too lenient with her that’s why she dared to make those requests and use the hp heavily thinking mam is ok. How can she use her work time to do personal thing? Feel disrespected especially when she used the earphones to listen to the music and couldn’t hear what I am talking. Bestspycam, the only thing I am worried about is my baby’s safety is compromised. Have been discussing with husband to get a webcam.
Totally agree with you, straffan23, they are stranger in the house, and can’t be trusted fully. At the moment, I couldn’t go maidless yet, becoz husband travel overseas regularly for business trip and I need the extra pair of hands to help me with the 2 primary school kids and a baby. I am counting down to that day when my baby turn 2 yo, and I will send her to the full day childcare. Also trying not to rely too much on the maid to do the stuff, so that when the day arrives, I will not be found stranded. Lol Anyway, FDW will never be able to meet our standard. I still does some of the housework myself. Meanwhile, have to be strict and firm with her so that she would not come up with requests like need to use my kitchen to cook a feast for her sis’s birthday.
Or if I still intend to get a maid after this current contract have ended, I will get non-Ex-sin maid. Should be able save substantially and they usually are okay to not having off days. There will be a list of job pre-requisites and not going to let the next one take care of my little one as intend to send her to full day childcare after that. -
These days, the helpers are getting more and more fortunate. Mine collected almost $400 of ang bow money which I think is really quite a lot. My family also gives her gifts during festive season and on her birthday. When she went back for home leave, my parents and I also give her red packets as spending money.
However, over time I feel disheartened that no matter how good we are to them, it is never enough and they do not appreciate it. Now that she is going out on alternate Sun, money is forever not enough. I was shocked when my "obedient" maid took some of my daughters’ savings! It was caught on webcab as I guess she must have thought that corner was a blind spot. When questioned, she said she is just "borrowing" and will put back the money when she gets the next pay. My innocent younger girl who is very close with the helper says never mind, she can share her money with auntie.
As I stay in an estate with a couple of ang mo families, the influence is really bad. People who does not have maids will never understand. You know how lenient those ang mos are. Their maids can do anything and everything! They are also allow to go out on all public holidays. Everyday at around 2pm to 5pm, their maids will gather at the pool side, chit chatting and playing with their phones. Now, my helper also ask me if she can also go out on public holidays? She also told me those maids are getting $1000 pay per month with weekly and public holidays off. I told her that her pay is also above market rate. I really do not think I shortchanged her. At $750 per month + 2 days off is ok right? Furthermore, we also bring her along on family trips to Seoul, Hokkaido, Gold Coast, Perth and Taipei but reality is no matter how good we are to them, they will never appreciate. My colleague once says, when we treat a dog well, they will be loyal to the 主人 but maids, no!
Anyway, I think when my kids enter secondary school, I will switch to part time helpers. I heard it is better and lesser headache. Just have to endure for a few more years. -
Love1001, you are indeed paying a lot to your helper. If my guess is correct yours is a Pinoy. My first maid was also a Pinoy and we paid her $700 and she is off every Sunday and entitled to public holidays, and similarly $50 if she work on these days. She has over 10 years of experience here and all are expat families. As you pointed out, the ang mo gave them lots of freedom and benefits. She was quite daring and during her 1.5 mths stay with us, we spent so much money on her, namely medical bills, supplement pills, food especially rice, and our utility bills shook up 2 times. I nearly fainted when I received the bill. She has far more requests including wanting aircon to be installed in her quarter. She was also rude to my husband and confinement lady. I knew it was not right when I started to feel uneasy with her around at home and I couldn’t imagine entrusting me baby in her care. So decided to transfer her out and got my current maid.
Only good point about her is she is super clean and that’s one of the reason why the pub bill went up so much as she her water usage is very high. -
Yes you are right Purpleflower. Mine is Pinoy. They are smarter but confirm much more demanding and will always argue. We should never choose a maid with past experience working with ang mo families. The word ‘discipline’ does not appear in those people dictionary. Anyway, I am just waiting for a few years then I can do away with maids.
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love1001, yes, we should NEVER choose a maid with past work experience with the ang mos or ex-sin maids who already have few yrs of work experiences here. And same for me, I can’t wait for that day to come with no more worrying about maids issues and also have my privacy back.
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i’ve learnt from my prev experience that don’t let your maid hold the hp during the day. i let my prev maid hold the phone during the day cos she say her parents sometimes need to find her urgently. in the end, i discover her taking sexy photos of herself on my bed wearing my clothes in the day time when no one is at home. now with this maid, i only give her the phone at night and she must put the phone outisde my room by 12am. i see no reason why they need to hold the phone in the daytime as they should be working. if they claim their family members might need to find them urgently, just ask their family members to call u. if they dont dare to call u, means nothing urgent.
Yup, no matter how nice u are to them, they will never appreciate…or rather, maybe only rare few will. they like to compare and awlays say their pay is lower…bullshit. -
They treated us as their ATM machines only.
Most of these maids, they just don’t know where is the limit, once they have the phones, they will either be yakking and yakking or texting and my one is also using Facebook and YouTube as she is holding smart phones. Lucky we didn’t give her our wifi. I just wonder why they have so much to talk on the phone especially done already have off days. And at night still can stay up till 1 to 2am. can’t stand it. Few times, I told her off for talking so loudly on phone. Cannot be too nice to them. -
I couldn't agree more. When we are good to them, they abuse it. I just could not understand why they can be using their phones till past midnight. I told my maid she can go and rest as soon as she finishes the housework but instead of sleeping early, she rather stays up late and talks to friends. Then the next day, shows a restless face as though she was being ill-treated! :mad:
At times, I really have no choice but to manage her as though I am managing my kids. Constantly reminding her that she is already considered quite fortunate to be working in my family. Although I may not be the best employer and she is not the highest paid maid, she do enjoys a lot of privilege. I can't be giving her off days as frequently as others but I do try to compensate her in other ways. How many helpers get a chance to travel as frequently as her and given 13th month bonus, I asked her. When it comes to meals, she gets to eat exactly the same as us too. Seriously, I do know of some families that do not allow helpers to eat so called \"premium\" food like crabs, tiger prawns, abalone etc...
Over time I really feel we cannot be too nice to them. Few knows how to appreciate. It is especially so when they started going out on weekends! A lot of bad influence out there and they start to compare! Weird thing is recently, she asks me whether she can renew her contract for 5 years??! I asked her it seems she is not too happy working here, always comparing then why still want to renew contract, moreover still want to renew for 5 years?! :siao: I told her to go and work for ang-mo families! At times, we have to let them know that they are indispensable. If they are not happy, just go and we will not keep them!
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